Train-order-delivering apparatus.



J. A. BLAlR. TRAIN ORDER DELIVERING APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED MAY 28; 1917.

1,252,39, Patented Jai1.8,1918.

da maf/. Elem" T STATES PATENT @FFQE JAMES A. BLAIR,OF SPQKANE, WASHINGTON, ASSIGNOR OF FORTY-NINE ONE- HUNDREDTHS T0 WILLARD Ef BARNI-IABT, OF SPOKANE, WASHINGTON.

TRAIN-ORDEB-DELIVERING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application' sied May 28, 1917. serial No. 171,517.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES A. BLAIR, a l

ried coiitrivance, both adapted-'to coperate to effect delivery of train orders to Ithe engineer and conductor of a passing' train while in motion.

The object of the invention resides in the' provision of a devi'ce'of the foregoing character embodying novel features of construction, comprisingxa minimum "of'parts withy consequent cheapness and simplicity, and adapted to perform the above functions in an eflicient, positive, and thoroughly reliable manner under all conditions.v e Y In a practical embodiment of the invenf tion as illustrated in the accompanyingY drawings--- Y Figure 1 indicates the relative positions of a despatchers device'andthe coperating device ascarried by the engine'cab of a passing train, the support ofthe despatchers device being shown fra gmentally and partly in section andthe order holding'arms in bothv operative and inoperative positionsand the train c'ontrivance arms which are'adapted to' catch the orders being shownk in both operative and inoperative positions, all to behere' inafter more fully explained.

Fig. 2 is a view from above of astation and train device, the'formerfhaving the support indicated sectionally while the cab is indicated fragmentally and diagrammatif cally.

Referring more specifically to the `drawings` and first describing the station appa-1 ratus,'the numeral designates an upright,

hollow or tubular support which is shown of rectaiigular'designin"cross-section and is of a height adapted to maintain the order holding arms 2 inprop'er relatiife'positions with respect to the catching arms of the train.'

when set horizontally or for operation. Each one of the three upper arms 2 is pivotally mounted on a bolt 3 which extends transversely of the support and has its ends-- secured in opposite side walls thereof and in Yclose parallel relation to the vfront wallA or that wall facing the train.Vv Each rod like armextends through a slot or aperture in said front wall and is bent to encircle its respective bolt in a c onvolute bend 4 to prov vide a bearing on the bolt, while an extended end 5 within the support is curved upwardly"k or in a U-bend and provided with an eye to which is attached a counterweight 6 which is adapted to throw the arms upwardly out of Patented Jaa. s, isis.

operative positions when the samer are released as hereinafter described.

The .upperinostr'armc2 is provided at its outer end with a pivotally mounted linger 7' one end of which extends outwardly from the end ofthe arin its remaining end being connected to the arm by means of a 'coil spring 8-which is adapted to retain the finger? in normal alned relation to the arm. The two intermediate arms 2 are'each provided; at their outer ends with a pair of fingers 7 and springs 8 similar to that of the uppermost arm.

The bottom arm 2 is pivotally supported upon the front face of the staticn standard 1 by means of an eye 9 the arm being bent atA right angles lto provide an abutment 10 which engages the face of the standard to limit upward movement of the arm. Similar rightangular bends or offsets'll in the hthree upperarms 2 serve to limit downward inlovement of the same whenset for operation.

Describing the Vtrain Y carried apparatus which is adapted to cooperate with the sta'-4 tion device just referred to, the same is'intended to comprise a catcher arm for the engine cab and a catcher-arm for the Caboose., while where two engines are employed tof a ltraina-separate catcher arm is provided for the cab of each. The station apparatus illustrated is adapted to accommodate either a double or single header. v n

lThe catcher arm 12 shown in operative` position in solid lines is similar in every rev spect tothe'corresponding equipment for a Caboose or for either of two engines, but

occupies the position intended for use whereu a single engine is doing the hauling or that ofthe second engine of va double-header:v

vThe catcher arm is pivotally mounted near arm 15' between said pivotal point and the inner extremity of the arm being adapted t0 be received and retained in a slotted housing 16 in the wall of the cab or caboose when the arm is extended l for operation. The outer portion 17 of the arm supports a coil spring 18 in parallel relation thereto.

The uppermost catcher arm which is shown in inoperative position and held against the face of the cab by spring clips'19 is the arm intended for use in connection with the leader engine of a double header, while the bottom catcher arm indicated in dashlines and in catching position is that arm intended for the caboose. All three arms when not in use are adapted to drop down in parallel relation with the side of the vehicle and to be secured in place by the spring clips 19.

In delivering one or aseries of orders to a passing train a cord 20 having loops 21 at both of its ends is attached in avertical and taut position to the fingers 7 and between adjacent arms, a separate cord being used for each order of a series), the orders, indicated by the numeral 22 being held by clips 23 carried bythe cords. The catcher arm is intended to catch a particular despatch held by the station apparatus is positioned relative to such apparatus on a plane intermediate of the respective order delivering arms and the coil spring 18 thereof is adapted to engage the taut cord and grip the same in passing, the cord being released' from the fingers 7 upon pivotal movement thereof caused by the impact. When the station arms are released after theV catching operation the counter-weights will position the same vertically, while in the case of the bottom station arm such release will allow the same to drop down out of the way.

Having described'th'e invention, I claim 1. In a device of the character described, a station apparatus and a train carried apparatus adapted to cooperate to efect delivery of despatches to the train, said station apparatus consisting of an upright support,

a plurality of despatch holding arms piv;

otally mounted thereon in superposed relation, a finger pivotally mounted on the outer end of each arm and `extending beyond the extremity thereof, a despatch holding cord adapted to be supported in vertical position by the fingers of two adjacent superposed arms; said train carried apparatus consisting of a pivotally supported and vertically swinging catcher arm, a coil spring carried by said catcher arm in parallel relation thereto and adapted to engage and grip the despatch holding cord of the station apparatus.

2. In a device of the character described, a station apparatus and a train carried apparatus adapted to coperate to effect delivery ofV despatches to the train, said station apparatus consisting of an upright support,

-a plurality of despatch holding arms piving cord adapted to be supported in yvertical position by the fingers of two adjacent superposed arms; said train carried apparatus consisting of a vertically swinging catcher arm pivotally supported near one end, a coil spring carried by said catcher arm at its outer end portion and in parallel relation thereto and adapted Yto engage and grip the despacth cord of the station apparatus. I

3. In a device of the character described, a station apparatus and a train carried apparatus adapted to cooperate to eifect delivery` of despatches to the train, said station Y apparatus consisting of an upright support, a plurality of despatch holding arms pivotally supported thereby, each arm having a convolute b-end near its inner end encircling a bolt, a right angular offset adapted to abut the face of the support and limit downward movement of the arm, and an inner end extension, a counterweight carried by the inner end extension, aV finger pivotally mounted on the outer end of each arm and extending beyond the extremity thereof, a spring connecting the arm and finger and adapted to retain the finger inrnormal parallel relation to the arm, a despatch holding cord adapted to be supported in vertical position by the fingers of two adjacent superposed arms; said train carried apparatus consisting of a vertically swinging catcher arm pivotally supported near one end, a coil spring carried by said catcher arm at its outer end portion and in parallel relation thereto and adapted to engage and grip the despatch cord of the station apa paratus.

In V testimony. whereof I hereunto afiix my Copies of -this patent may be chte-ined for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissionerof Illatents,`

Washington, D. C. 

